July 4, 2022.
Russia, St. Petersburg.
This year's International Congress of Mathematicians will be held on July 6 at the St. Petersburg International Congress Center.
Now there are only two days left before the official start. Mathematicians and mathematics enthusiasts from all over the world have already started taking transportation to St. Petersburg to prepare for this event.
Moreover, the number of people attending this conference this year has increased much more than before.
According to official figures, there were more than 3,000 participants at the 2018 International Congress of Mathematicians in Rio de Janeiro, and more than 4,000 people have registered for this year's International Congress of Mathematicians in St. Petersburg.
In order to welcome more than 4,000 participants, it is said that the St. Petersburg International Conference Center has been specially renovated. It can be said that it is ready.
As for why it attracted more than 4,000 people to participate this year, everyone can probably guess the main reason.
That is the rumor that has been circulating in the mathematical community a few months ago about one of the seven major mathematical problems of the millennium, the existence and smoothness proof of the solution to the Navier-Stokes equation.
If the rumors were spread from ordinary people, most others would not believe it, but it was different now. Now that the rumors were spread from Li Mu, people had to be suspicious.
After all, it is a mathematical hypothesis crusher.
…
France.
Collège de France.
As the most important academic department in France, the Collège de France brings together almost all the top scholars in France.
For example, in its mathematics department, there are many French Fields Medal winners who serve in it.
At this time, in an office of the Mathematics Department of the Collège de France.
Laurent Laforgue appeared here, and then said to an old professor sitting in the office: "Lion, are you not going to go to the International Congress of Mathematicians?"
The old professor named Leon raised his head and glanced at Laurent Laforgue, then smiled and waved his hand and said: "I won't go. I'm old. It's quite tiring to go there. Anyway, there's no need." Something that interests me.”
Laurent Laforgue raised his eyebrows: "Oh? Aren't you still interested in the Navier-Stokes equation? What you study is partial differential equations, and the Boltzmann equation, but you don't plan to go?"
Leon waved his hand and said with a smile: "The Navier-Stokes equation, isn't it just some rumors now? If the rumors could come true, wouldn't the Riemann Hypothesis have been proven dozens or twenty times? , room temperature superconductors were born.”
"Okay." Laurent Laforgue shrugged his shoulders and didn't say much.
He was the Fields Medal winner in 2002, and Pierre-Louis Lion was the Fields Medal winner in 1994.
Although he did not study fluid mechanics or the Navier-Stokes equation, this did not prevent him from being interested in this matter. However, what he did not expect was that the person in front of him who really studied partial differential equations , actually not interested.
Of course, maybe Leon is right?
After all, it is just a rumor up to now.
However, Laurent Laforgue didn't care so much. Anyway, he didn't go to the conference just because of this rumor.
"I'm going to take a leave and prepare to fly." He said, "But if the rumors are true, I can probably imagine you rushing here in a hurry."
"Impossible, absolutely impossible." Leon waved his hand: "If he really proves the Nass equation, I will eat this screen on the spot."
As he spoke, he pointed at the monitor in front of him.
Laurent La Forgue suddenly laughed.
"Okay, I'll wait. I hope you take this screen with you when you come over."
Leon gave him a middle finger.
Laurent Laforgue turned his head and left with a smile.
Of course, discussions like theirs are happening throughout the mathematical community.
Some people think that Li Mu has probably proven it, while others always think that rumors are just rumors and cannot be true.
However, no matter what, more people came to attend this year’s International Congress of Mathematicians.
…
St. Petersburg Pulkovo Airport.
As a plane from the UK arrived at the airport, Li Mu picked up his luggage and walked off.
"Finally we're here."
Looking at the scene around him, Li Mu sighed with emotion.
"St. Petersburg."
Behind him, Andrew Wiles also looked around.
Of course, it was not just the two of them, Lucas Richter, Simon Downers, and several mathematics professors from Oxford also came.
This is a grand gathering of mathematicians held every four years. Unless it is due to physical reasons or other circumstances, basically all mathematicians will come.
"I wonder if we can see Perelman at this year's Mathematicians Conference."
Richter thought of one of the most famous mathematicians in contemporary Russia, and of course he is also very famous among mathematicians around the world.
Downers shook his head: "Perelman...well, let's forget it. With this guy's temper, I'm afraid he wouldn't be allowed to come over if it wasn't a big deal."
"Okay, let's go directly to the hotel first. It won't be until the day after tomorrow before the official start."
After everyone heard what Wiles said, they all nodded and went directly to the hotel they had booked without saying anything more.
…
Next, before the official start of the conference, the group of them also walked around.
St. Petersburg State University, as the co-organizer of this International Congress of Mathematicians, also kindly invited them and other participants to visit St. Petersburg State University. Li Mu and the others had nothing to do anyway, so they all went to visit, especially Looked at the Faculty of Mathematics at St. Petersburg State University.
Here, they also saw what the mathematics education in Russia was like.
Russian mathematics is quite famous in the world, and can even be said to be very strong.
Throughout the 20th century, there were many top mathematicians from Soviet Russia, including Rukin, Alexandrov, Kolmogorov, Gelfand, etc., and besides these There are also top mathematicians like Gregory Perelman who even proved one of the seven major problems of the millennium, the Poincaré conjecture.
Of course, it is not just about the level of the top mathematicians, but also the average level of mathematics. Russian mathematics is also very strong. At least it is not like the UK. The top mathematicians are very top-notch, but the mathematics level of ordinary people is so low. The Prime Minister cannot even calculate what 8 times 9 equals.
Of course, Li Mu also felt familiar with the way of education. At least the style of education was very similar to that of China.
But this is not surprising. After all, China learned a lot from Big Brother in the last century, including education methods.
"Professor Li, it seems that our students really like your arrival."
After a tour, everyone returned to the dean's office of the School of Mathematics.
Dean Bolonikov said to Li Mu with a smile.
"I'm also very flattered." Li Mu also said with a smile.
After walking around just now, those students from the mathematics department would shout out his name if they recognized him.
What is an international superstar?
"Maybe if we invite you to take a class with us, our students will be happier, but I don't know if you are willing." Bolonnikov made the invitation.
"Of course, it's an honor."
Naturally, Li Mu did not refuse this kind of thing.
"Haha, thank you so much!" Bolonikov stood up happily and shook hands with Li Mu.
Being able to let Li Mu take a math class in their college would be the envy of many other fraternal colleges.
After some discussion, Li Mu decided to hold this class on the day after the International Congress of Mathematicians.
As for what class to take?
Li Mu said he would make a decision when the time comes.
In this regard, Bolognikov naturally didn't say anything. Anyway, Li Mu could talk about whatever he wanted, as long as the class was taught here.
"But having said that, I remember Professor Perelman also taught at your school. Has he resigned now?"
As we chatted, this topic finally came up that could not be avoided.
Upon hearing this question, Bolonnikov sighed and said: "Yes, he has completely resigned. After all, he has completely separated from the mathematics community."
"I think he and I were very close colleagues back then. Who would have thought that he, who should have gone down in history, has now gradually disappeared."
Hearing this sentence, everyone couldn't help but feel pity.
Li Mu asked: "Didn't he continue studying mathematics?"
"Well..." Bolonnikov said: "He is still doing research. He is just separated from the mathematics world, but he is not separated from mathematics."
"I once asked him, and he said that mathematics is his hobby and he will never be separated from it. But unfortunately, he never shows his results to outsiders."
"That's right." Li Mu nodded slightly.
In modern society, such people still exist. It is really admirable and unimaginable at the same time.
Bolonnikov rubbed his chin: "But when I was a guest at his house once, I saw his research on the Riemann Hypothesis on the blackboard in his house. Maybe he has been studying the Riemann Hypothesis all the time. .”
"It's even been proven, so it's not impossible. After all, he doesn't publish his own research. "
He smiled and suddenly looked at Li Mu again, "Maybe, Professor Li, you might be able to become a friend of that guy Perelman."
"As the saying goes, friends of geniuses are often geniuses."
…
Time passed quickly.
July 6th is also here.
Outside the St. Petersburg International Conference Center, there was a huge crowd. Mathematicians and mathematics enthusiasts from all over the world, as well as reporters from all walks of life, gathered here and moved towards the conference center.
In addition, outside the conference center, there are naturally some civilian mathematicians.
To a certain extent, these civilian mathematicians can be regarded as a sight in every international mathematician conference.
They placed specially customized posters next to them, announcing that various mathematical conjectures had been solved.
"Actually, there are relatively few people this year. I made a visual inspection and estimated that the number is almost half."
Li Mu and the others were also walking at the entrance, looking at the excitement of these civilian mathematicians, Wiles said at this time.
"It's actually so much less?" Li Mu was a little surprised.
"It's not because of you." Wiles said with a smile.
Li Mu looked confused: "Because of me? What does it have to do with me?"
Wiles: "Think about it, how many jobs have you stolen from civilian mathematicians by your proof of Goldbach's conjecture, twin prime conjecture, and hail conjecture?"
"Ah this..."
Li Mu suddenly laughed out loud.
Then he is really guilty, guilty.
It sounds right. The hardest hit area for civilian mathematicians is these conjectures in the field of number theory.
As a result, now that these conjectures have been put to an end by him, the civilian mathematicians naturally have no choice but to give up - of course, they have not given up completely. At least when he looked around, he saw that one civilian mathematician was actually claiming He proved Goldbach's conjecture wrong.
But at this moment, several more police cars drove over, and then a few burly men in Russian police uniforms got down from them. They immediately beat up the man and finally drove him away.
It is indeed a Russian-style law enforcement...
Li Mu held a moment of silence for these civilian mathematicians.
Of course, he did not continue to care about these things. Soon, they also entered the conference center.
Time passed quickly, and basically all the participants were sitting in the conference hall.
More than 4,000 people almost filled the conference hall.
As time passed slowly, finally, the conference was about to begin.
Plovsky, chairman of the organizing committee of this International Congress of Mathematicians and director of the Institute of Mathematics at St. Petersburg State University, walked out first and came to the rostrum, facing the more than 4,000 participants. The meeting member smiled and said: "Everyone, please calm down."
Under his control, the conference hall, which was originally buzzing with discussions, quickly became quiet.
After there was no more noise, Plovsky said: "Today is the official day of the 29th International Congress of Mathematicians."
"We have welcomed more than 4,000 colleagues from the mathematics community to participate in this grand event."
"On behalf of Russia and all members of the organizing committee of the 29th International Congress of Mathematicians, I welcome you all!"
He bowed deeply, and the audience burst into warm applause.
Afterwards, Plovsky went on to introduce other situations. In short, as the Russian organizer, what he said was basically to welcome everyone.
Then, it was the turn of Carlos Koenig, the current president of the International Mathematical Union, to take the stage and deliver a speech.
"The International Congress of Mathematicians has been held for the 29th time, and I am honored to be the president of the International Mathematical Union 4 years ago to preside over this conference. "
“The long-standing purpose of the International Congress of Mathematicians is to hope that every participant can make new friends and reunite with old friends in this mathematical event. In the process, we also share new knowledge with each other and come to Let our mathematical community become more active..."
Although everyone is used to hearing these words, they still need to be said.
It's like procedural justice.
Of course, Carlos Koenig didn't talk for long.
Everyone present is a mathematician, and so is Koenig. Although he is not a Fields Medal winner like Shigefumi Mori, the previous president of the International Mathematical Union, he has been invited twice as a speaker at the International Congress of Mathematicians. One time or one hour plenary session rapporteur.
So most of them don't like this kind of scene that is too long.
Quickly, "Well, I think no one wants to continue listening to what I said just now. Of course, I don't want to continue talking either."
Amidst bursts of laughter, Carlos Koenig said: "So, let's go directly to the part that everyone is most concerned about."
Koenig's words immediately attracted the attention of everyone in the room.
The opening ceremony of every International Congress of Mathematicians attracts the most attention.
Because at the opening ceremony, several of the most important awards in mathematics will be officially announced.
The Chen Shengshen Award, the Gauss Award, the Abacus Award (formerly the Naiwang Linner Award), and, the most talked about, the Fields Medal!
Obviously, the next step to enter is the awards ceremony.
Feeling the emotions of the audience below, Carlos Koenig also smiled slightly, and then said: "Then, the first thing we will award is the Chen Shengshen Award."
Chen Shengshen Award is an award specially established in his name to commemorate Chen Shengshen's great contribution to mathematics.
This is considered a lifetime achievement award in the field of mathematics. Although it has only been awarded twice so far, and this year is the third, it still attracts the attention of all the older generation of mathematicians in the world.
"And at this International Congress of Mathematicians, the winner of the Chen Shengshen Prize is - Barry Mazur!"
"For his profound discoveries in topology, arithmetic geometry, and number theory, and for his leadership and generosity in shaping the next generation of mathematicians!"
In the warm applause, everyone turned their attention to the winner and sent congratulations to him.
Beside Li Mu, Wiles said with a smile: "Mazur finally won the award, he deserves it."
Back then, he had collaborated with Mazur. Their experience of working together and some of Mazur's results were one of the key factors in his success in proving Fermat's Last Theorem.
Therefore, he naturally expressed his sincere blessings to Masur for winning the award.
Soon, the 84-year-old man stepped onto the podium and received his award with a smile on his face.
Next, there is the Gauss Award and the Abacus Award.
The Gauss Prize is awarded exclusively to research in the field of applied mathematics and is the highest honor in the field of applied mathematics.
The Abacus Award is awarded to mathematicians who have made outstanding contributions in information science mathematics.
In terms of the Gauss Prize, Li Mu was also eligible to win, but the final winner was another mathematician named Elliott Lieb.
Just like that, the first three awards were finally awarded.
"Then it's time for our key award."
On the rostrum, Carlos Koenig, who had presented three awards in succession, was not tired at all and was even getting more excited.
Even his voice became excited.
Because what comes next is——
"Fields Medal!"
(End of chapter)
